Gastrointestinal bleeding associated with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm revealing Takayasu's Arteritis

Bounour, Rajae and Kirami, Yousra El and Benajeh, Dafrallah and Ibrahimi, Sidi Adil and Lahmidani, Nada (2025) Gastrointestinal bleeding associated with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm revealing Takayasu's Arteritis. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 26 (2). pp. 2531-2534. ISSN 2581-9615

Background: Takayasu arteritis is a rare systemic vasculitis affecting large arteries, leading to stenosis or aneurysmal complications. While stenotic lesions are more common, aneurysms can result in life-threatening events such as rupture and aortoenteric fistulas. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 41-year-old woman admitted for massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Imaging revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a duodenal fistula, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. The patient underwent emergency aorto-aortic bypass grafting and duodenal fistula closure, followed by immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusion: This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of Takayasu arteritis, particularly in its rare aneurysmal form. Early imaging and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.